May 2008 Archives
Sure, the days have been getting longer and the May long weekend has come and gone, but summer isn't really here until Steve Simmons starts writing dumb shit about baseball. So put your car on cruise and lay back because this is summertime:
... Poor J.P. Ricciardi. He can't seem to make any decisions that work out. He paid Frank Thomas big money to get lost and now it's May and Thomas has more home runs and more RBIs than anyone on the Blue Jays roster ...
I'm pretty sure that the decision to cut Frank loose was purely financial. If Thomas reached 376 ABs this season, his $10 million option for next year would kick in. Ricciardi took advantage of Thomas' slow start and kicked him to the curb, even though J,P. must have known that despite his early season woes, the Big Hurt would still end up with more dingers and RBIs than anyone else on the Jays roster. I seem to recall that the people who thought cutting Thomas was a great baseball move were local sportswriters. You know, the kind of people who write stuff like this:
The Blue Jays made the right move benching DH Frank Thomas yesterday. In fact, for their own protection, they need to do it more often. Never mind that he clogs up the base paths and the middle of their order.
Moving on...as we all know, this can't really be a dumb Blue Jays piece without the obligatory reference to the Bestest Blue Jay Outfielder of All Time Ever:
... I know this is getting old but can someone please explain Shannon Stewart to me. The guy is a non-factor. Reed Johnson has scored 24 runs in Chicago; Stewart has scored nine as a Jay ...
As Homer Simpson once said, people can use statistics to prove anything. Unless, of course, those people are named Steve Simmons and they use numbers that mean absolutely nothing. Like runs scored. Reed Johnson and Shannon Stewart are getting on base at pretty much the exact same rate (.342 OBP vs .340). In eleven more at bats (139), Reed Johnson has come around to score 14 more times than Shannon Stewart (128 ABs). Does this not suggest that the reason Reed has scored more runs is due mostly to the fact that players who hit after him tend to do a better job of driving runners in?
So, there you go: Reed Johnson is a better ball player than Shannon Stewart because Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee are having better seasons than Alex Rios and Vernon Wells. Thanks Steve. Now that summer is officially here, I've gotta hustle to the mall and get me a short set.
... Poor J.P. Ricciardi. He can't seem to make any decisions that work out. He paid Frank Thomas big money to get lost and now it's May and Thomas has more home runs and more RBIs than anyone on the Blue Jays roster ...
I'm pretty sure that the decision to cut Frank loose was purely financial. If Thomas reached 376 ABs this season, his $10 million option for next year would kick in. Ricciardi took advantage of Thomas' slow start and kicked him to the curb, even though J,P. must have known that despite his early season woes, the Big Hurt would still end up with more dingers and RBIs than anyone else on the Jays roster. I seem to recall that the people who thought cutting Thomas was a great baseball move were local sportswriters. You know, the kind of people who write stuff like this:
The Blue Jays made the right move benching DH Frank Thomas yesterday. In fact, for their own protection, they need to do it more often. Never mind that he clogs up the base paths and the middle of their order.
Moving on...as we all know, this can't really be a dumb Blue Jays piece without the obligatory reference to the Bestest Blue Jay Outfielder of All Time Ever:
... I know this is getting old but can someone please explain Shannon Stewart to me. The guy is a non-factor. Reed Johnson has scored 24 runs in Chicago; Stewart has scored nine as a Jay ...
As Homer Simpson once said, people can use statistics to prove anything. Unless, of course, those people are named Steve Simmons and they use numbers that mean absolutely nothing. Like runs scored. Reed Johnson and Shannon Stewart are getting on base at pretty much the exact same rate (.342 OBP vs .340). In eleven more at bats (139), Reed Johnson has come around to score 14 more times than Shannon Stewart (128 ABs). Does this not suggest that the reason Reed has scored more runs is due mostly to the fact that players who hit after him tend to do a better job of driving runners in?
So, there you go: Reed Johnson is a better ball player than Shannon Stewart because Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee are having better seasons than Alex Rios and Vernon Wells. Thanks Steve. Now that summer is officially here, I've gotta hustle to the mall and get me a short set.
From the desk of Godd Till, last Tuesday:
Hi Damien,
Last week you asked to see the column where you said Quinn had issues with younger players. A couple of our readers may have granted your request:
From March 25, 2007:
Interestingly, it was their youngest players who led the way, or at the very least played major roles on a night when the workload was widely shared and no player skated less than 10 minutes.
This is one of the most significant differences between Maurice and his predecessor, Pat Quinn.
For better or worse, Quinn always showed a preference for veteran players when it came to crunch time.
Maurice, by contrast, has decided length of résumé will not be the primary factor when he selects his lineup down the stretch.
"There's no ages on the backs of the jerseys," he said.
and
May 05, 2004 Page: A1 Section:News Edition:ONT Length:912
HEAD: Youth must rule for Leafs to win
EXTRACT: "His other problem is that in Pat Quinn, he has a head coach most suited to guiding older teams rather than patiently developing a crew of kids."
Do we win Aerosmith tickets?
Best,
Godd
Funny, no answer. I guess Damien was too busy putting together his managerial dream team of Colin Campbell, Dave Nonis, and Craig Hartsburg - a trio who collectively haven't matched the NHL success of a Pat Burns or a Drunk Dad Pat Quinn alone - while simultaneously arguing that the two Pats record of making conference finals, icing 100-point teams year after year, and beating Ottawa's brains in is worthy of derision. My head hurts.
Look, I don't particularly want either one back, but for DC Talk to be poor-mouthing them while championing the likes of Nonis and Campbell (who must have great contacts, cause there's nothing in his record that suggests he should be anywhere near an executive position) is, yet again, proof positive that what matters to Damien are his own bizarre peccadilloes and grudges, rather than any serious attempt to analyze how hockey teams win and what executives may have the skills to accomplish that goal. Leaf fans deserve better than Dave Nonis and Colin Campbell, and they sure as hell deserve better than the crap Cox serves up.
Hi Damien,
Last week you asked to see the column where you said Quinn had issues with younger players. A couple of our readers may have granted your request:
From March 25, 2007:
Interestingly, it was their youngest players who led the way, or at the very least played major roles on a night when the workload was widely shared and no player skated less than 10 minutes.
This is one of the most significant differences between Maurice and his predecessor, Pat Quinn.
For better or worse, Quinn always showed a preference for veteran players when it came to crunch time.
Maurice, by contrast, has decided length of résumé will not be the primary factor when he selects his lineup down the stretch.
"There's no ages on the backs of the jerseys," he said.
and
May 05, 2004 Page: A1 Section:News Edition:ONT Length:912
HEAD: Youth must rule for Leafs to win
EXTRACT: "His other problem is that in Pat Quinn, he has a head coach most suited to guiding older teams rather than patiently developing a crew of kids."
Do we win Aerosmith tickets?
Best,
Godd
Funny, no answer. I guess Damien was too busy putting together his managerial dream team of Colin Campbell, Dave Nonis, and Craig Hartsburg - a trio who collectively haven't matched the NHL success of a Pat Burns or a Drunk Dad Pat Quinn alone - while simultaneously arguing that the two Pats record of making conference finals, icing 100-point teams year after year, and beating Ottawa's brains in is worthy of derision. My head hurts.
Look, I don't particularly want either one back, but for DC Talk to be poor-mouthing them while championing the likes of Nonis and Campbell (who must have great contacts, cause there's nothing in his record that suggests he should be anywhere near an executive position) is, yet again, proof positive that what matters to Damien are his own bizarre peccadilloes and grudges, rather than any serious attempt to analyze how hockey teams win and what executives may have the skills to accomplish that goal. Leaf fans deserve better than Dave Nonis and Colin Campbell, and they sure as hell deserve better than the crap Cox serves up.
Well, it was a hell of a day for Marty York and Dave Feschuk, wasn't it? With their respective bete noires on the way outta town, odds are they were hoisting many a frosty mug tonite at the Two Mittens Pub (if they let Marty past the bouncer).
But at Cox Bloc, that's already yesterday's news. I'm here to give you the big story that's about to break apart Toronto. Call it a hot tip. Call it a T4. Mats Sundin is gone, he's a speck, he's a dot. After over a decade of memories, he, like Mary Poppins, is about unfurl his umbrella and float home. Or to Detroit. All you have to do is read the signs. First he did something I bet he had always wanted to, and took some batting practice cuts at the Dome (but did he CLOG THE BASES???); then he repaid Rosie Dimanno for a decade of mash notes by taking her out to dinner. All this after a season when he granted the wish of a young man born tragically without peripheral vision or hand/eye co-ordination, and helped him play a season on an NHL blueline. (Well, close enough). Trust me, next week he'll be spotted on the observation deck of the CN Tower, just remembering.
Speaking of hot tips, how about this flash?
Feaster and Tortrella I am told, as a GM/Coach TEAM, are in the running for the Leafs position. That would also open the door for Barry Melrose in Tampa....The timing of the Maurice firing is extremely intriguing to me when coupled with the timing of the Lightning sale.
I talked to a Toronto source who told me, "They won a Stanley Cup, and both hold very strong personalities that compliment each other perfectly. These are qualities high up on Fletcher's Check List." I think Feaster and Torts are the PERFECT fit for the Leafs. Two highly respected guys that have totally different approaches but really both would fill voids that have been lacking for some time.
I was petrified for a minute, before I remembered it was Eklund's ghoulish imagination and not anything connected to reality. He's a regular Wes Craven!
Also, we had a couple Blocheads put in a request that something, anything, be done about Howard Berger's latest train wreck, nominally about Fabian Brunnstrom. Berger took the possibility that the mystery winger (who has been 'overhyped' by the fans who apparently now run the major hockey media outlets in this country) might sign with the Leafs to drag out all his favourite dead horses for their ritual flogging.
To be honest, all I really have to say about it is that it certainly did prove that Brunnstrom would be an idiot to come to Toronto.
Apparently writing that vitriol left Howard with no time to gussy up for today's Maurice post-mortem presser, as he failed to even clear the extremely low bar of journalistic fashion sense by rocking up in a Bears jersey and jeans. Now every time I read his column, I'm gonna hear it in the voice of these guys. He barely had time to digest his ribs and Polish sausage before he had to return to the computer, this time to bang out an apologia for totally fucking up the facts in his Brunnstrom column. Whoops! He didn't include all the piece's errors, likely because Hockeybuzz doesn't have enough bandwidth. For example, no mention of this snafu superbly pointed out today by our own Varry Galk:
But at Cox Bloc, that's already yesterday's news. I'm here to give you the big story that's about to break apart Toronto. Call it a hot tip. Call it a T4. Mats Sundin is gone, he's a speck, he's a dot. After over a decade of memories, he, like Mary Poppins, is about unfurl his umbrella and float home. Or to Detroit. All you have to do is read the signs. First he did something I bet he had always wanted to, and took some batting practice cuts at the Dome (but did he CLOG THE BASES???); then he repaid Rosie Dimanno for a decade of mash notes by taking her out to dinner. All this after a season when he granted the wish of a young man born tragically without peripheral vision or hand/eye co-ordination, and helped him play a season on an NHL blueline. (Well, close enough). Trust me, next week he'll be spotted on the observation deck of the CN Tower, just remembering.
Speaking of hot tips, how about this flash?
Feaster and Tortrella I am told, as a GM/Coach TEAM, are in the running for the Leafs position. That would also open the door for Barry Melrose in Tampa....The timing of the Maurice firing is extremely intriguing to me when coupled with the timing of the Lightning sale.
I talked to a Toronto source who told me, "They won a Stanley Cup, and both hold very strong personalities that compliment each other perfectly. These are qualities high up on Fletcher's Check List." I think Feaster and Torts are the PERFECT fit for the Leafs. Two highly respected guys that have totally different approaches but really both would fill voids that have been lacking for some time.
I was petrified for a minute, before I remembered it was Eklund's ghoulish imagination and not anything connected to reality. He's a regular Wes Craven!
Also, we had a couple Blocheads put in a request that something, anything, be done about Howard Berger's latest train wreck, nominally about Fabian Brunnstrom. Berger took the possibility that the mystery winger (who has been 'overhyped' by the fans who apparently now run the major hockey media outlets in this country) might sign with the Leafs to drag out all his favourite dead horses for their ritual flogging.
To be honest, all I really have to say about it is that it certainly did prove that Brunnstrom would be an idiot to come to Toronto.
Apparently writing that vitriol left Howard with no time to gussy up for today's Maurice post-mortem presser, as he failed to even clear the extremely low bar of journalistic fashion sense by rocking up in a Bears jersey and jeans. Now every time I read his column, I'm gonna hear it in the voice of these guys. He barely had time to digest his ribs and Polish sausage before he had to return to the computer, this time to bang out an apologia for totally fucking up the facts in his Brunnstrom column. Whoops! He didn't include all the piece's errors, likely because Hockeybuzz doesn't have enough bandwidth. For example, no mention of this snafu superbly pointed out today by our own Varry Galk:
Among the many, many absurd misstatements in the article, this is one of my favourites:
It might take him a bit longer to break into the front ranks of players on the Red Wings, Stars or Canadiens, but he'll never have to question the motives of his employer. Condominiums and soccer teams will not be essential topics of development.
Right. Because in Liverpool, they call it "football."
Ouch. It's gonna take a while for Berger to top this week - but I'm sure he'll find a way. After all, this ain't his first rodeo.
Stay tuned, there's plenty more in the hopper. Did Damien Cox respond to our mailbag question? What role did we play in the great Leafs Nation Sponsorship Scandal? What insanity will be writ in the wake of Maurice getting canned? Stick around to find out....
As happy as I was to watch the last remaining Canadian team bomb out of the playoffs, I have refrained from taunting my Habs fan friends. Even though my inbox was filled with mocking emails at the end of March as the Deathtrain to Loserville finally pulled into the station (example: "You've shittered the bed once again, my leaves nation friends. Thanks for coming out and better luck next decade"), I have not returned the favour. In fact, I feel a strange affinity with the supporters of Les Glorieux these days, as now we both know how it feels to have our team's GM totally cock up any chance the team has of winning anything.
To be honest, when I questioned the wisdom of dealing Huet to Caps back when the trade was made in February (or, more accurately, questioned Damien Cox's glowing review of the the trade), I didn't really know how much it would come back to haunt Canada's new favourite team. But over these last few weeks, as Carey Price morphed from Ken Dryden (1971 Conn Smythe Winner) into Ken Dryden (Liberal leadership candidate), even those who aren't dumb fucking Leafs homers could see that trading Huet wasn't so much Gainey's determined jaw setting the course as it was...well...the actions of a man taking a potential Cup winner and trading their best goalie to Washington. Maybe its just me looking through my blue and white glasses, but I don't think a late second round pick was worth it.
On the other hand, at least Gainey was willing to stand behind his goalie of the future. It may not have worked out, but it is a hell of a lot better than burying him as a backup to a journeyman in the AHL playoffs. I mean, fuck. Seriously. What the fucking fuck. Between this, and Peddie saying that the Leafs may not have a GM in place until September, I'm beginning to think that MLSE aren't very good at running a hockey team.
So...seeing as this is supposed to be a media blog, I guess I should mention something about the media...besides Cox...well, Tart Cider has a great piece about what the media would be saying right now if the Leafs had done what the Habs just did. Example: "The Habs should have drafted one of Anze Kopitar or Marc Staal instead of Carey Price, who'll probably be pumping gas in five years." Good stuff.
And, in case you missed it, our Face Man was quoted over at Macleans.ca the other day, commenting on the news that the Habs had become the bandwagon-jumpers team of choice:
We also loves us some bandwagons, and that sound you hear is the thunder of about a million of them ponying up to Hockey Night In Canada to watch Guy Carbonneau valiantly dig himself out of a 3-1 hole against the Flyers (I believe, unlike these idiots.) As eternal Leaves Nation flogger 'Godd Till' (a pseudonym, to save himself the embarrassment), who toils away at the beautifully bitchy Coxbloc, mentioned the other day: "I wonder what the results will be... what with everyone breaking their legs jumping off the bandwagon."
That's right, Till (or whoever you really are). I'd like to see the results of that poll now.
To be honest, when I questioned the wisdom of dealing Huet to Caps back when the trade was made in February (or, more accurately, questioned Damien Cox's glowing review of the the trade), I didn't really know how much it would come back to haunt Canada's new favourite team. But over these last few weeks, as Carey Price morphed from Ken Dryden (1971 Conn Smythe Winner) into Ken Dryden (Liberal leadership candidate), even those who aren't dumb fucking Leafs homers could see that trading Huet wasn't so much Gainey's determined jaw setting the course as it was...well...the actions of a man taking a potential Cup winner and trading their best goalie to Washington. Maybe its just me looking through my blue and white glasses, but I don't think a late second round pick was worth it.
On the other hand, at least Gainey was willing to stand behind his goalie of the future. It may not have worked out, but it is a hell of a lot better than burying him as a backup to a journeyman in the AHL playoffs. I mean, fuck. Seriously. What the fucking fuck. Between this, and Peddie saying that the Leafs may not have a GM in place until September, I'm beginning to think that MLSE aren't very good at running a hockey team.
So...seeing as this is supposed to be a media blog, I guess I should mention something about the media...besides Cox...well, Tart Cider has a great piece about what the media would be saying right now if the Leafs had done what the Habs just did. Example: "The Habs should have drafted one of Anze Kopitar or Marc Staal instead of Carey Price, who'll probably be pumping gas in five years." Good stuff.
And, in case you missed it, our Face Man was quoted over at Macleans.ca the other day, commenting on the news that the Habs had become the bandwagon-jumpers team of choice:
We also loves us some bandwagons, and that sound you hear is the thunder of about a million of them ponying up to Hockey Night In Canada to watch Guy Carbonneau valiantly dig himself out of a 3-1 hole against the Flyers (I believe, unlike these idiots.) As eternal Leaves Nation flogger 'Godd Till' (a pseudonym, to save himself the embarrassment), who toils away at the beautifully bitchy Coxbloc, mentioned the other day: "I wonder what the results will be... what with everyone breaking their legs jumping off the bandwagon."
That's right, Till (or whoever you really are). I'd like to see the results of that poll now.
This week's Coxbag featured a startling revelation:
I'd be interested to see the story or column in which I said Quinn can't relate to younger players. Others have said that many times; I never have. In fact, I remember him bringing Tomas Kaberle and a few other young players into the Leaf operation a few years ago. So I never bought into that characterization of him.
I'd be interested to see the story or column in which I said Quinn can't relate to younger players. Others have said that many times; I never have. In fact, I remember him bringing Tomas Kaberle and a few other young players into the Leaf operation a few years ago. So I never bought into that characterization of him.
I think he has other shortcomings as a coach. More important, it was
time for the Leafs to change coaches. He'd had his run. I think
congratulations are certainly in order for his efforts with the
under-18 team, although I don't know what that has to do with possible
NHL work. I do, however, remember him being behind the bench in Torino
when Team Canada finished seventh. . .
So Damien's memory extends back to 2006, but the long-ago haze of 2002, when the world was abuzz over flappers in their scandalous knee-length skirts and the dangers of the new horseless carriages, is just too distant for his memory to grasp. Is this why he keeps writing the same column over and over again?
Also, I'd be interested to see that column too. Cause I'm positive it's out there. I know Damien doesn't remember (it was like FIVE WHOLE YEARS AGO), but if we had had this blog around the turn of the century, every second post would have been about Cox's epic jihad against Quinn. I remember thinking at the time the second best thing about a Leafs Cup win would have been seeing how Cox would still manage to bash Quinn for it in the paper next day. Good times. Any of you Blocheads up to the challenge of proving DC Talk wrong?
